UAZ Patriot X set for November launch with diesel engine and new manual gearbox

UAZ targets November launch for updated Patriot

The Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant plans to begin series production and sales of the UAZ Patriot X in November. The press office of Sollers, which owns UAZ, confirmed the plans to Avtonovosti Dnya. The company gave a target date, rather than announcing that the launch had already taken place.

The main technical change is the addition of a diesel version. It will feature a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing 136 hp. The engine was developed by Chinese company JAC and is manufactured in Russia.

The petrol version will retain its predecessor’s naturally aspirated 2.7-litre engine, which produces 150 hp. Both engines will be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox sourced from JAC, a new transmission for the model. Assembly of the gearbox has already been established at the Zavolzhye Motor Plant in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

All versions will retain selectable four-wheel drive. The SUV will also get a new electromechanical transfer case, operated using a rotary selector on the centre console.

An automatic gearbox will not be part of the upcoming update. According to Ilnur Sakhabiev, general director of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, the company is already working on integrating one, but does not plan to resume production of SUVs with this transmission until 2028.

On the outside, the updated model will be distinguished by a slightly revised grille and a new alloy wheel design. The headlights will be fully LED.

Inside, there will be a multifunction steering wheel with a thicker leather rim and a Russian-made magnesium frame. USB ports of various types, including USB-C, will be provided for connecting devices.

The new centre console will house single-zone climate control and a 9-inch infotainment display. It will also have buttons to activate the front-seat heating, which offers two heat settings.

UAZ previously announced that it was introducing an upgraded TCS NAMI active safety system on the Patriot, Pickup and Profi in its new model range. In addition to anti-lock braking and traction control, the system assists with hill starts and emergency braking. It also provides an electronic differential lock.

Before announcing the launch schedule, the carmaker released a video showing the updated SUV and its lighting. The footage shows workers installing fasteners and bonding the windscreen into place on the assembly line.